Cable-way



May 28, 1963 F. CRUClANl 3,091,190

CABLE-WAY Original Filed April 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1953 F. CRUCIANI 3,091,190

CABLE-WAY Original Filed April 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1963 Original Filed April 21,

F. CR U C] AN I CABLE-WAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Fatent 3,091,190 CABLE-WAY Frido Cruciani, 6 Via Vessella, Rome, Italy Continuation of application Ser. No. 729,738, Apr. 21, 1958. This application Apr. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 193,049 Claims priority, application Italy Apr. 27, 1957 9 Claims. (Cl. 104-115) The present invention relates to a cable-way mounted on swinging frameworks.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 729,738, filed April 21, 1958.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved cable-way structure capable of the most varied applications in the building art.

According to this invention the cable-way structure comprises a pair of derricks the upper ends of which are connected by a load carrying rope, an anchoring element for each end of said rope, and bracing ropes arranged cross-wise with respect to the load carrying rope.

On the load carrying rope there runs a dolly driven by a rope operated by a winch, the dolly having a lifting rope operated by a second winch. A further winch controls the swinging motion of the structure in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of the load carrying rope.

Furthermore, according to this invention, an additional and somewhat yielding anchoring system is provided for the load carrying rope, consisting in that further bracing ropes are connected to the load carrying rope at critical positions between each end of the anchorage of said load carrying rope and the next adjacent derrick. This results in a retaining force tending to oppose the transverse tilting of the derricks, so that the winch or winches designed to control the swinging motion of the structure may be of a comparatively reduced power.

This invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the attached drawings, which show by way of nonlimitative examples some preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the base element of the derrick, in front elevation;

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing the connection of the tie-rods of the derrick arms;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view according to plane III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of a top element of the derrick, in front elevation;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 diagrammatically show the unit when mounted, in side elevation, in plan view and in front elevation, respectively;

FIGS. 9 and 10 diagrammatically show a sernirigid anchorage mounting, in side elevation and in plan view, respectively;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are front elevational views of the two derricks forming the structure, the swinging movement being controlled by a single winch; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a further type of installation, suitable for broad served zones.

With reference first to FIGS. 1 to 5, the carrying element (derrick) is essentially formed by a set of tubes 1, connected end-to-end so as to form a sturdy central column. In register with the joints are fastened cross arms 3 (FIG. 2), to the ends of which are connected tie-rods 4 connecting these arms to the adjacent joints, so as to form a strong lattice structure. The tie-rods can be tensioned by conventional tensioning devices. For more elaborate structures, additional arms are pro- "ire vided to which are connected the tie-rods which are directly connected to a base element 8 and to a top element 9. The base element, generally shown at 8 in FIG. 1, has at its lower end a rounded surface which rolls on its bearing surface when the derrick swings. Particularly, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows a toothed spherical sector 10 engaging a rack 11 anchored to the ground.

The arms 3, at locations registering with the connections of the tie-rods (FIGS. 2 and 3), are provided with a projection 12 which enters a kind of chain link 13 to which are connected the eyelets 14 of the tie-rods 4.

The top element of the derrick, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is formed by a strong frame 9 made of metallic members on which are idling grooved pulleys 15 and 16 for the supporting and lifting ropes, while the load carrying rope runs on a saddle 18 which is are shaped to guide the rope where its direction changes. Rope as used herein also means cable or line.

The saddle 1% has a flared groove 19 in order to allow a certain deflection for the rope in the transverse plane, a clamp 19 to block or grip the load carrying rope, a rocker 18 whereby said saddle rests on the frame 9, and two connecting arms 22 for the cross ropes.

The pulley 17 idles on the rocker. This type of hinged support causes the load always to be centered on the column 1.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show a cable-Way supported by the derricks 29, the heights of which are I1 and 11 while the slopes are P and P with respect to the vertical. The derricks .20 rest on the points 21 and the brace ropes 22 are anchored at 23, said points lying on transverse planes with respect to the load carrying rope 24 which is anchored to the ground at 25. The dolly 26 runs on the load carrying rope 24, this dolly being connected to the driving rope 27 which is operated by the winch 28 in cooperation with the idler pulleys 29 and 30.

The driving rope 27 moves in its forward run on the pulley 29 and in its return run 27 on the pulley 30. The two runs of the driving nope lead to a tensioning device comprising two pulleys suspended from the load carry ing rope 24 and an intermediate pulley 31 provided with a counter weight 32, which is for the purpose of compensating the length of the rope for every position of the dolly 26. The latter is provided with the pulleys 33 about which moves the lifting rope 34, actuated by the winch 35 with the interposition of the pulley 36.

The load 37 is attached to the lifting rope 34.

It is to be noted that the direction of arrival of the rope to both the winches 28 and 35 is not affected by the inclination of the derricks owing to the presence of the pulleys 29, 30 and 36. This features is of the utmost importance as it allows for the derricks to be swung without affecting the proper operation of the cable-way.

The function of the counterweight 38 is to maintain constant the tension 'of the load-carrying rope for any operating condition; this counterweight, in order to avoid heavy stresses in the rope due to an abrupt bending thereof, acts on said rope through the saddle shaped member 39. Said member is shaped as an arcuated body having on its underside a receiving groove for the load-carrying rope, said rope being fastened to member 39 to an intermediate point of the groove thereof. In this manner, when counterweight 33 pulls member 39 downwards, said member acts on the tension of load-carrying rope without causing any sharp bending thereof.

FIG. 8 shows the transverse swinging arc of the derrick 20, this are being confined between the limit positions 20' and 20", so that the served zone is dimensioned as shown by the dashed zone of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the brace ropes 22a fastened to the'lo-ad carrying rope at a point 41 intermediate the round an'chsrage' andthe top of the derrick. In this case obviously, the holding force on the derrick, which is determined by the rope 22a, is a function of the location of the point 41. As this holding force increases when the point 41 approaches the top of the derrick, and vanishes when the point 41 approaches the ground, an ideal intermediate point exists for a given load weight P and a given inclination angle. If locking action is carried out at this point, it will be possible to have the derrick swung by a minimum power, for instance by a winch which acts transversely thereon.

FIG. 11 shows a second measure to diminish the required power of the winch controlling the swinging movement of the derrick, by means of counterweights which although allowing inclination of the derrick, act thereon so as to render stable its erected position and ensure the equilibrium of the structure also in case of excessive inclination due to a possible misoperation of the winch. The swinging movement of the derricks may also be controlled (FIG. 12) by a single double-drum Winch 42 acting on a single derrick by the rope 43 fastened to the top thereof, said rope afterhaving passed about the anchor;pulley-;4 4 and the pulley 45 carried by the derrick, coming to re-Wind about the second drum .of the winch 42 in reverse winding direction. The single Winch 42 although having a limited: power is capable of operating the whole cable-way, in that the other derrick (FIG, 11) within: certain'limits is caused to' become inclined' by the first derrick, and the aforesaid counter- .weights'46 and 47, serveto stabilize the derrick for each position thereof (for instance that shown in FIG. 11 in dashed lines). h a 4 FIG. 13 shows diagrammatically another applica'tion of the cable-way, derived from that of FIG. 6, the' like elements in both figures being denoted vby-the samereference numerals. In the structure of FIG. 13 which is used for great spans, in lO'I'dEI'ltO avoid excessive lowering of the lifti'ngrope, the latter runs onmovabl'e'pulley supports 48 moved by'a drifit rope 49 connected to one or more cable drums 50*fas'tened-1to the sha'ftof thew-inch 28"controllin'gthe movement. of the dolly. The diameter:of the cable of drums '50 -i n relation to that of the drum-of the winch 28'is in such a ratio. that when the .d'olly 26 moves, the movable pulley-supports are'regnlarly moved towards or away from each other. In FIG. 13, for instance, the" diameter: of 'the' cable 50 is equal to one half of the diameter of the of the winch 28. Thed'rivin'g rope for the "movable support pulleys 48is. stabilized by the pulleys 51 as-well "asby the counterweight 52; h I

The present-inventionhas beenillustratedand described in some preferred forms of embodiment It should however be understood tha t constructive variations may in practice he ni-ade'within the scope of the appended claims. a

Having described-the invention, 1. claim: v p

1." In a'cable-way, a tower-likederriok having a bottomzend member supported ona base member, meshing gear-teeth oh the members operativelylconnecting the members, one of the members being curved to facilitate rocking of the-derrick; h

2; A'tower-like "derrick accordingto'claim 1 wherein the gear teeth on o-ne of the memhers'are rack teeth and the gear teeth on the-other member are a part of *a toothed spherical sector.

P k-W Y s mpri iasa ir 9 o al y m unted tower-like derricks, each derrick having an upper member that has a clamp, a curvedfsaddle with a flared groove and idler pulleys for driving and lifting ropes, a load carrying rope secured by means of the clamp in the curved saddle interconnecting thderricks and having its ends anchored, and brace ropes securedto the derricks transversely relative to the 'plane of the load carrying rope, whereby the'load carrying rope is displace'able transversely relative to its plane by pulling on'the appropriate brace ropes to thereby pivot the derricks.

4. A cable-way according to claim '3' wherein the curved saddle is supported on a rocker. p

5. A cable-Way comprising a pair ofrpivotally mounted tower-like derricks, each derrick havingran upper memher that has a clamp, a curved saddle with a flared groove and idler pulleys for driving and lifting ropes, a load carrying nope secured by means of the clamp in'the curved saddle interconnecting the derricks and having its ends anchored, and brace ropes secured to the load carrying rope transversely to the plane of the loadcarrying rope at points intermediate the tops of the derricks and the anchorages of the load-carrying rope', wherebyt the load carrying rope is di-splaceable transversely relative to its plane by pulling on the appropriate brace ropes to thereby pivot the derricks.

6. A cable-way according to claim 5 wherein the curved saddle is supported on a rocker.

7. A cable-way comprising pivotally mounted towerlik'e derrick-s, a load carrying rope secured to 'the'top of each of the derricks interconnectingthc derrick-s and having its ends anchored, brace ropes secured to the 'derri cks transversely .to the plane of the load carrying-rope, a dolly movably mounted on the load carrying'ropea driving rope connected to' the dolly, a winch for'drivingthe driving rope, and idler pulleys one for the forward and one for the return run of the driving rope located between the winch and tops of the derricks, whereby the direction ot-arrival'of the driving rope-to the wi'nh i s not affected by any inclination of the derricks.

8. A' cable-way comprising pivotal'lyi mounted towerlike' derrick-s, a load cfrrying rope secured-161115 0 5 015 each of the derricks interconnecting the ing its ends anchored, brace ropes secured ,tothe derrick's transversely to the plane of the ioad rope, a dolly movablyinounted m me lOad ca Irying 'rope, idler pulleys carried by the dolly, a lifting rope on'qth'e idler pulleys carried by 'th'e -dolly; a driving rope connected to the dolly, winches for driving ,the lifting and the driving ropes, and idler pulleys that are adjacent the winches for guiding the lifting and the drivingropes and that arelo cated'between the winches and the topsof thejderricks.

9. A cable-way comprising pivotally mountedtowerlike derricks, a load carrying rope secured'to' the top of each of the derricks interconnecting the derrick's and having -its ends anchored, brace popes secured to the 'derlicks transversely to the plane of the load carryinglr opea'and counterweights, each having'a rest' position and a"counterpullingposition, on the brace ropes, the counterweights being in their rest positions when the derrick's' are sub stantially vertical, leaning of the derriok's t one side lifting the counterweights on the opposite side to (their counterpulling' positions to stabilize the cable-way.

No references cited. 

1. IN A CABLE-WAY, A TOWER-LIKE DERRICK HAVING A BOTTOM END MEMBER SUPPORTED ON A BASE MEMBER, MESHING GEAR TEETH ON THE MEMBERS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE MEMBERS, ONE OF THE MEMBERS BEING CURVED TO FACILITATE ROCKING OF THE DERRICK. 